It is true that interior design is a matter of taste. What looks good to one person might not be appealing to another. Most people want their home to be stylish, providing a pleasant atmosphere for both the residents and visitors. Your home decor should be a reflection of your personality, but there are certain design techniques that are flat out bad choices. This article will discuss some of the techniques you should not use, as well as some more appealing alternatives.
Don't: Draw Too Much Attention to the Paint - The homes of the 80s and 90s had a very distinct style of using dark, bold colors for the walls. In many cases, the paint scheme would differ in each room. Thankfully, in modern times, this trend has been all but done away with. Boldly-colored walls can be a distraction, drawing more attention than they should. And homes with drastically-shifting paint schemes can make moving from room to room jarring.
Do: Go For More Subtle Colors - A home is almost always easier on the eyes when it has a soft, comfortable color scheme. Subtle, earthy grays and beiges are very popular modern choices. Walls with subtle colors are able to fade into the background, drawing the attention to the main decorations. Unassuming, consistent colors will complement the main elements instead of taking the spotlight away from them.
Don't: Match Everything Religiously - While a good design scheme keeps a good balance of styles and colors, it does not have to stick a strict palette of materials. For example, if everything is made of fancy, finished wood, it all tends to blend together. In other words, if everything is special, nothing is. A design that is too focused can be as bad as one that is too unfocused.
Do: Use Contrast to Good Effect - Variety and consistency are two things that you have to strike a balance with. It is easy to overdo the number of styles and colors, but also, you should be willing to mix it up a little. Have a wooden bed frame? A white nightstand next to it can actually work pretty well. You can add color accents with secondary elements, such as cushions that are brighter than the rest of the couch. Just because two things are different does not necessarily mean that they are incompatible. If you find that it works, try mixing and matching furniture from different sets.
Don't: Use Carpet in the Bathroom - This is design 101. Carpet in the bathroom is widely agreed upon to be a bad idea. Anywhere there is running water, there is the chance of leaks, and that can lead to a very expensive disaster. Carpets can absorb and retain a lot of water, which can quickly lead to rot and mildew problems if you are regularly stepping on it getting out of the shower.
Do: Use Easy to Clean Surfaces - Tile is the most popular type of bathroom flooring for good reason. It is durable and easy to clean. The choice of tile is up to you. Some types are more water-resistant and easier to install than others, but they each have their advantages.
Don't: Make Tacky Design Decisions - A home should reflect the personality of the owner, and there is no "right" way to design a home. But certain trends are simply tacky. Always have been, always will be. Others had their heyday long ago and just do not work in the modern day. If something flat out does not work, you will know. If you have to question it, it is probably the wrong choice.
Do: Make It Your Own - While you do not want to overdo it, a design scheme that does not reflect the owner's personality will appear plain and soulless. Try to figure out the balance of items, not deviating too far from the tone of each room. If you have tacky items that you cannot part with for whatever reason, you might at least keep them out of the home's most used areas. They better serve as decorations in your personal areas, such as your home office or den. That mounted trophy buck works better there than in the dining room.
Don't: Draw Too Much Attention to the Paint - The homes of the 80s and 90s had a very distinct style of using dark, bold colors for the walls. In many cases, the paint scheme would differ in each room. Thankfully, in modern times, this trend has been all but done away with. Boldly-colored walls can be a distraction, drawing more attention than they should. And homes with drastically-shifting paint schemes can make moving from room to room jarring.
Do: Go For More Subtle Colors - A home is almost always easier on the eyes when it has a soft, comfortable color scheme. Subtle, earthy grays and beiges are very popular modern choices. Walls with subtle colors are able to fade into the background, drawing the attention to the main decorations. Unassuming, consistent colors will complement the main elements instead of taking the spotlight away from them.
Don't: Match Everything Religiously - While a good design scheme keeps a good balance of styles and colors, it does not have to stick a strict palette of materials. For example, if everything is made of fancy, finished wood, it all tends to blend together. In other words, if everything is special, nothing is. A design that is too focused can be as bad as one that is too unfocused.
Do: Use Contrast to Good Effect - Variety and consistency are two things that you have to strike a balance with. It is easy to overdo the number of styles and colors, but also, you should be willing to mix it up a little. Have a wooden bed frame? A white nightstand next to it can actually work pretty well. You can add color accents with secondary elements, such as cushions that are brighter than the rest of the couch. Just because two things are different does not necessarily mean that they are incompatible. If you find that it works, try mixing and matching furniture from different sets.
Don't: Use Carpet in the Bathroom - This is design 101. Carpet in the bathroom is widely agreed upon to be a bad idea. Anywhere there is running water, there is the chance of leaks, and that can lead to a very expensive disaster. Carpets can absorb and retain a lot of water, which can quickly lead to rot and mildew problems if you are regularly stepping on it getting out of the shower.
Do: Use Easy to Clean Surfaces - Tile is the most popular type of bathroom flooring for good reason. It is durable and easy to clean. The choice of tile is up to you. Some types are more water-resistant and easier to install than others, but they each have their advantages.
Don't: Make Tacky Design Decisions - A home should reflect the personality of the owner, and there is no "right" way to design a home. But certain trends are simply tacky. Always have been, always will be. Others had their heyday long ago and just do not work in the modern day. If something flat out does not work, you will know. If you have to question it, it is probably the wrong choice.
Do: Make It Your Own - While you do not want to overdo it, a design scheme that does not reflect the owner's personality will appear plain and soulless. Try to figure out the balance of items, not deviating too far from the tone of each room. If you have tacky items that you cannot part with for whatever reason, you might at least keep them out of the home's most used areas. They better serve as decorations in your personal areas, such as your home office or den. That mounted trophy buck works better there than in the dining room.
About the Author:
It's much simpler to design a great scheme if you have a gorgeous home to begin with. And a brand new home can be a clean canvas. For new homes in Washington, be sure to stop by SeaPacHomes.com.
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